Spreader



June 8, 1965 w. F. MENGEL 3,187,879

SPREADER Filed Manch l5, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY 3,187,879 SPREADER Wiiiiam F. Mangel, F. F. Mengei Company, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. Filed Mar. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 264,814 15 Claims. (Cl. 198 1l7) This invention relates to machines for distributing concrete or like material and, more particularly,y relates to an improvement over the concrete spreader disclosed and claimed in my co-pendin-g application entitled Spreader, Serial No. 194,818, tiled May l5, 1962.

A general object of this invention is to increase the versatility of a machine for spreading concrete of the type disclosed in the aforementioned patent application while simplifying its overall construction.

Another `object is to provide a versatile concrete spreader having a stable and compact construction.

A further object of this invention is to provide a concrete spreader which will accommodate apparatus United States Patent t O tor discharging concrete onto the spreader, which apparav tus may be disposed at a variety of difterentheights.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a concrete spreader having a simplified arrangement for adjusting to different roadway widths.

For the achievement of these and other objects, this invention contemplates the provision of concrete distributing apparatus including a frame, an elongated conveyor and a pair of booms supporting the conveyor Vfrom the frame. VThe booms being selectively operable, separately and jointly, to pivot the conveyor about either of its ends and about a point intermediate its ends. With this arrangement the conveyor can be made to assume any desired position relative to a roadway being paved and from any selected position will still provide for complete coverage of the defined roadway to insure even'distribution of concrete onto the roadway. The booms are supported on the frame at a point intermediate their ends so as to provide a stable construction, the support for the booms also being operative to guide the booms through the -full range of movement along the trarne so as to maintain .a simplified construction. Furthermore and in accordance with another aspect of this invention,

it is contemplated that one end of the conveyor be supported in such a `manner as to be adjustable vertically so that this end functions as the loading end of the conveyor to accommodate discharge of concrete from fvarious heights. It is also contemplated that the concrete Vdistributingapparatus of this invention includes wheel carriages supporting the frame for movement along the roadway being paved, with the wheel carriagesbeing movable relative to the frame in a manner to accommodate roadways of different widths. t

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be pointed out in, or be` apparent from, the specication and claims, as will obvious modications of the embodiment shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. l is aside elevation of a spreader embodying this invention; v'

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the spreader; FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the spreader illustrating one ofthe boom dollies and one of the wheel carriages;

FIG. 4 is a view generally along lines 4 4 of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a section view along lines 5 5 of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is an end view of the upper portion of one of the wheel carriages taken generally along lines 6 6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a section view along lines 7 7 of FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a section view along lines 8 8 of FIG. 3; and

3,ld7,8.79 Patented June 8, 1965 FIG. 9 is a sectionview along lines 9 9 of FIG. 8.

With particular reference to the drawings, a spreader constructed in accordance with this invention includes a conveyor 2 having a continuous belt 4 which, in a manner well known in the art, is powered by an electric or hydraulic motor (illustrated schematically at 6 in the drawings) and suitably connected to drive pulley 8 of the conveyor. The conveyor is supported from a frame 10 which includes a main body portion 12 and cross frames 14 and 16 located at the opposed ends of the main body 12. Body portion 12 is made up of a pair of parallel I- bearns 18 and 20 connected by a transversely extending I-beam 22 and a plurality of structural braces 24. Cross `frames 14 and 16 include central portions 26 and 28 each made up of parallel I-beams -3@ and 32 32 connectl ed by transverse I-beams 34 34 and 36 36 and structural braces 38 and 40.- It will be appreciated that the spreader isl symmetrical about its longitudinal axis, and

extending from the opposed ends of central portions 26 and 28 are identical extensions 42-42 and 44E-44. Extensions 4Z comprise parallel I-beams M -d6 connected by braces 48 and extensions 441-44 com-prise parallel I-heams -Sll connected by braces 52 with the extensions being connected to the central portions in a manner to be described more completely hereinafter.

Conveyor 2 is supported from the frame by elongated booms 5d and 56 which are pivotally connected to the include aligned apertures which register with a bearing opening in the inner ends of each hoorn =for receiving pivot pin-s 68 and 76 to complete the hinge connection for each boom. A

Booms 54 and 56 are preferably constructed of suitably connected I-'beam sections and extend from hinge connection 58 upwardly over cross frames 14 and 16 and are connected at their free ends to the conveyor. The right end of the boom, as viewed in the drawings, is the discharge end of the conveyor and is connected to the conveyor by means 72, which can take the form of the conveyor connection disclosed in the above identied application having a bracket portion 7d pivotally connected to boom 54 and supporting lthe conveyor on rollers 76 and y78, positioned on both sides of thezconveyor to permit relative movement between the conveyor. and the boom during swingingmovement of the conveyor.

The lett endof the conveyor -is the loading end and includes an extension connected to the conveyor by means '82 Awhich includes a lower bracket 84 connected `to the conveyor and an upper' bracket 86 supported fromextension 89 and pivotally connected to the lower bracket in a suitable manner. Boom 56 is connected to exten- Ision 8) by a hinge connection 88 including a rst hinge bracket 90 on the extension and a second hinge bracket 92 on the boom. A pair of ears 94 and 96 on bracket 90 and a bearing 98 on bracket 92 include aligned apertures for receipt of a hinge pin 100 to completetheihinge connection. Pin 102 connects upper. bracket :'86V of connecting means 82 to the extensiony and provides a horizontal axis about which relative movement between the extension .and the connectingl means occurs.

Movementof extension 80 about hinge connection 88 is controlled by a hydraulic ram lflseated between boom 56 and extension 80 and movement oieach of the booms l-. about their respective hinge connection is controlled by hydraulic rams 186 and 188 seated between the central portion 12 of the frame and the booms. With this arrangement booms 54 and 56 are selectively operable to ymove the conveyor to any desired position relative to the roadway being paved toV thereby locate the left or loading end of the conveyor for most facile receipt of concrete, as for example from a concrete hauling vehicle V(not shown). Such vehicles commonly discharge concrete onto the conveyor through extension chutes. With this in mind, the particular advantage of providing for Vertical adjustment of the loading end of the 'conveyor will be more readily appreciated for with this arrangement the loading end can be readily adjusted to accommodate varying lengths and/or heights of extension chutes. With the loading end properly positioned the discharge end of the conveyor can then be swung between the roadway forms (not shown) by actuating hydraulic ram 108. The versatility and various positions which the conveyor can be operated in, are more particularly described in the aforementioned patent application.

In accordance with this invention booms 54 and 56 are supported intermediate their ends on the frame. Preferablythe booms extend over and are supported by cross frames 14 and 16 which provide a stable support for the booms withoutthe frame placing any material restriction on the range of movement of the booms.

More particularly, each boom is supported for relative movement on the cross frames by a dolly 110 which also serves to guide the boom along the cross frame. Both of the dollies are identical in construction and therefore only one has been yshown in detail and will be described. Each dolly includes two pairs of lianged Vrollers 112--112 and 114-114 positioned so that their flanged portions engage the inner edge of the upper ilange of the parallel I-bearns making up the cross frames. Rollers 112-112 and 114-114 are rotatably supported by shafts 116 and 118 which are in turn supported in upstanding brackets .120 provided at the four corners of a support plate 122. A pin 124 is ksuitably connected to and extends upwardly from the support plate and passes through a swivel plate 126 and a hub 128 provided on the swivel plate. A pair of rollers 1311-130 are journaled in bearings 132 and 134 carried by the swivel plate and hold it in spaced relation from support plate 122 so that the swivel plate can rotate about pin 124 and relative to the support plate. A pair of Vertical plates 136 and 138 are connected to the swivel plate 126 and are supported by four braces 140. Two pairs of rollers 142-142 and 1441-144 are supported from vertical plates 136 and 138 for engagement with the opposed sides of the web of I-beam 146 of boom 56. With this construction, actuation of the hydraulic rams will pivot the booms and as the booms pivot, dollies 110 are confined for movement longitudinally of the cross frames, or in other words, transversely of the direction of travel of the spreader. The swivel plate pivots in accordance with boom movement and rollers 142-142 and 1442-144 permit the boom to move relative to the dolly, i.e. permits relative movement between the boom and the dolly generally in a radial direction with respect to the boom pivot. Accordingly, the booms are guided along the cross frames with complete freedom and without binding. With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, rollers 148 and 158 are supported -and 16, central portions 26 and 28 are connected to extensions 42-42 and 44-44 by splice joints 150, see

FIGS. 8 and 9. More particularly, at the end of each I-beam -38 and 32-32 of the central portion four blocks 152, only two of which are shown in FIG. 9, are welded to the upper and lower anges thereof. Each block includes a bore 154 which is positioned to register with a bore 156 in a similar block 158 welded to the I- beams lid-46 and 5th-5@ of the extension portions 42- 42 and dfi-44. To facilitate connection and alignment, blocks 158 are provided with a counter sink 160 and blocks 152 are provided with a mating projection 162 which ts into the counter sink. A bolt 164 extends through each pair of mating blocks and is securely fastened by a nut 166 which completes the splice joint. With this construction the lateral extension of the cross frames can be varied very simply through the selection of extension portions of the desired length.

1t is further contemplated that the spreader includes wheel carriages 174 supported on the oppositely extending portions of each of the cross frames 14 and 16 to be positioned outside of the roadway forms. The wheel carriages are identical in construction and only one will be described in detail. Eachwheel carriage includes upper and lower portions 176 and 178. The lower portion comprises a wheel well and cover 188 in which wheel 182 is supported. A motor 184, electric or hydraulic as desired, is also supported on wheel well and in a manner well known in the art is connected to and drives wheel 182. Upper wheel carriageV portion 176 includes a lower support plate 186 having vertical side plates 188 and 1?@ connected thereto. A bearing hub 191 is lixed to the upper side of support plate 186 and a pin 192 is Yfixed to and extends upwardly of wheel well 180 through support plate and is received in hub 191 to provide a pivotal connection betweenv the upper and lower wheel carriage portions. End plates 194 and 196 extend between vertical side plates 188 and k190 and support plates 198 and 208 extend between the end plates, parallel to the side plates. Horizontal bearing plates 202 and 284 are connected to and supported by the end plates 1% and 196 and the support plates 198 and 200 to provide a bearing for the lower flange of the I-beams 46-46 of cross frame 14. Retaining plates 206 and 208 are welded to support plates 198 and 20G to form, with vertical side plates 188 and 190 a coniining track for the l-beams.

Rollers 210, 2118 are supported fbetween brackets 212 and the vertical side plates above the upper flange of the I-beams, it will be noted that brackets 212 also cooperate in defining a connin-g track for the upper flange of I- beams. An inverted channel member 220 extends .between vertical side plates 188 and 190 and has internally threaded bosses 222 and 224 connected t-o the upperside thereof and each registering with an aperture 226 and 228 in the channel member. Bolts 230 and 232 are threaded through bosses 222 and 224 for engagement with the upper liange of the I-beams, Iif desired, plates 234 can be positioned between the bolts and the I-beams to prevent damage to the I-beams. With this arrangement and by suitable adjustment of bol-ts 230 and 232, the lower anges of the l-beams can be seated on bearing plates 202 and 204 and rollers 210 raised olf ofV the upper flange of the I-beams, This establishes the normal working arrangement of the wheel carriages as it will be appreciated that the carriages are positively held in position. To move the wheel carriages inwardly or outwardly on the cross frame to `accommodate diferent lroadway widths, it is preferred that .a jack be used to raise the spreader frame and lift the Wheel ycarriages from the ground. Bolts 230 and 232 are loosened allowing the rollers to engage the I-beams and the wheel carriages can be moved manually t-o any desired position on the cross members. When the wheel carriages are properly Ipositioned, the bolts are again tightened against plates 234 to bring the I-beams into engagement with bea-ring plates 2012 and 2114 and the frame is lowered. It will the appreciated that, if desired, rollers 210 could be positioned for continuous engagement with the upper flange of .the I-beams and the carriage could be driven inwardly or outwardly without raising the frame, in this latter instance it might be necessary to apply a suitable lubricant to the lower side of each of the I-bea-m's.

Wheels 1-82 are individually driven by motors 184, however, Ia lcentral power source, connected to the Wheels in a m-anner well known in the art, could be utilized. For example, the central power source could be mounted on horizontal platform 240 located centrally ot the frame. rIhe spreader can be steered by an arrangement similar to the steering arrangement disclosed in the aforementioned patent application, namely providing a hydraulic ram at each wheel. These steering rams, as well as the other hydraulic rams included in the spreader, can :be controlled from a central -control station, which again can be located on the plat-form 1244D or at any other convenient location .on the spreader.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it'lwill be apparent to those skilled in Ithe art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for distributing concrete and the like comprising, in combination, an elongated conveyor, a frame including two relatively spaced, generally parallel, elongated support members, .an elongated boom extending generally transversely Iof each ot said support members, each of said .booms having one end connected to said conveyor and its other end pivotally supported from said frame, means for selectively pivoting each of said booms about its respective .pivot connection to move said conveyor relative to said frame, dolly means engaged with and movable longitudinally of each of said support members, and means connect-ing said dolly means to said booms for movement of said dolly means along said support members in response to pivotal boom movement and for relative movement between said boom and dolly means so that said booms are supported from said support members throughout pivotal movement of said booms.

.2. Apparatus for distributing concrete and the like comprising, in combination, an elongated conveyor, a trame including relatively spaced, parallel support members extending Igener-ally transversely .of said conveyor, an elongated boom extending over and generally transversely of each of said support members, each of said booms having one end connected to said conveyor and its other end pivotally supported from said frame, means for selectively pivoting each of said booms about its respective pivot connection to move said conveyor relative to said frame, dolly means engaged with and movable on each of said support members in the direction of extension of said support members, and means connecting `said dolly means to each of saidbooms for movement of said dolly means along said support members and for relative movement between said booms and dolly means so that said booms are supported lfrom said support members throughout pivotal movement of said booms.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 including wheel carriage means supported oneach of said support members, and means connecting said Wheel carriage means for adjustable longitudinal movement relative to said support members.

4. The apparatus of claim Z including means connecting an end of one of said booms to said conveyor and operative to move an end of said conveyor vertically to adjust the Vertical position of said conveyor relative to said apparatus.

5. Apparatus for distributing concrete and the like comprising, in combination, an elongated conveyor, a frame including two relatively spaced, parallel, elongated support members extending transversely of said conveyor,V

an elongated boom extending generally transversely of each of said support members, means connecting one end of each of -said booms to said conveyor and means connecting the other end of said booms on and for pivotal 6 l movement .with respect to said frame, means for selectively pivoting each of said booms aboutits respective pivot connection to move said conveyor relative to said `frame, `dolly means for each of said booms including iirst and second por-tions connected for joint movement and for relative movement therebetween, means connecting said iirst portion to said support members for movement of said dolly means longitudinally of said support members, and means connecting said second portions to said boom means for movement of said booms for movement of said dolly means along said support means in response to pivotal boom movement and for movement of said booms relative to said dolly means in the direction of the longitudinal axis of each of said booms so that said booms `are supported from said support members throughout pivotal boom movement.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein each of said booms extend over said support members and are er1- gaged by said dolly means at a lpoint intermediate the ends of said booms.

"-7. The apparatus of claim 6 whereinsaid dolly means includes roller means fixed on said lirst portion and in engagement with said support members for confined motion longitudinally of said support members, and rolle-r means fixed on said second portion for movement therewith and engaging said booms to guide each of said booms for movement relative to said dolly means during pivotal movement of said booms.

`ti. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said booms are arranged end to end with their inner ends pivotally connectedto said frame at a point intermediate said support members.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 including a plurality of wheel carriage means, and means connecting each of said =wheel carriage means for adjustable movement relative to said support members so that said apparatus is adjustable to accommodate different roadway Widths.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said wheel carriage means includes roller means engaging said support members and means for moving said roller means into and out of engagement with -said support members 'for selective adjustable movement of said carriage means on said support members.

1v1. The combination of claim 6 wherein said support members comprise relatively spaced central portions ixed in said frame, extension members a-t the opposed ends of each of said central portions and a releasable splice connection at the joint between said central portions and said extensions.

12. The combination of claim 6 including means connecting one end of one of said booms to s-aid conveyor -adjacent an end of said conveyor, said connecting means including an extension member connected at one end to said conveyor and having its opposite end pivotally connected to said boom for vertical movement of said exension member in a vertical plane, and means for selectively moving said extension member in said plane to raise and lo-Wer said conveyor end.

13. Apparatus for distributing concrete and the like comprising, in combina-tion, .an elongated conveyor, a pair of relatively spaced, generally parallel elongated support members extending generally transversely of said conveyor, an elongated boom extending over and generally transversely of each of said support members and generally in the direction of extension of said conveyor, means connecting each of said booms to said conveyor at relatively spaced points on said conveyor, means connecting each of said boom-s for pivotal movement in said apparatus and in a direction generally transversely of said direction of extension of said conveyor, means for selectively pivoting each of said booms about its respective pivotal connection to move said conveyor in said apparatus, and means engaged on and movable longitudinally of each of said support members and engaging each of said booms at a point intermedia-te the ends of each .boom 4for movement jointly with said booms and longitudinally of said support memlbers and to support said booms from said support members throughout pivotal boom movement, said last-mentioned means also including means for providing relative movement between said last-mentioned means and said booms in the direction of the longitudinal Iaxis of each of said booms.

i4. Apparatus for distributing concrete and the like comprising, in combination, an elongated conveyor, a fra-me havin-g a generally elongated axis, a pair of elongated booms extending generally in the direction of extension of said frame axis, means connecting one end of each of said booms to said conveyor and vmeans connecting the other end of each of said` booms to and for pivotal movement with respect to said frame, means for selectively pivoting movement each of said booms about its respective pivot connection to move said conveyor relative to said frame, dolly means for each of said booms including rst and second portions .connected for joint and relative movement therebetween, said first portions engaging each of said booms to connect said ybooms and dolly means for joint movement, and means in `said vframe extending in a direction generally transversely of said frame axis and engaging each of said second dolly means portions to guide movement of said dolly means during lboom movement along said transverse direction with respect to said frame and to support said booms from said frame through-out pivotal movement of said booms.

Y 15. Apparatus for distributing concrete and the like comprising, in combination, yan elongated conveyor, a frame including .a` pair of relatively spaced, generally parallel, elongated support members, means supporting said conveyor from said frame, and carriage means connected to each of said support members Vand supporting said apparatus for movement along the ground, said support members comprising relatively spaced central portions xed in said frame, extension members atthe opposed ends of each said central portions and a releasable splice connection at theV joint between said cen-trai portions and said extensions.

FOREIGN PATENTS v1,063,964 8/5-9 Germany. 1,120,976 12/61 Germany.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner. WILLLAM n. LA BORDE, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3 187 879 June 8 1965 William F. Mengel It is hereby certified that error a ent reqlirng correction and that the correctedbelow.

ppears in the above numbered patsad Letters Patent should read as Column 6, line l0,

strike out "boom means for movement of said"; column 7, line l6 strike out "movement".

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of November 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Allcsting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING CONCRETE AND THE LIKE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN ELONGATED CONVEYOR, A FRAME INCLUDING TWO RELATIVELY SPACED, GENERALLY PARALLEL, ELONGATED SUPPORT MEMBERS, AN ELONGATED BOOM EXTENDING GENERALLY TRANSVERSELY OF EACH OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS, EACH OF SAID BOOMS HAVING ONE END CONNECTED TO SAID CONVEYOR AND ITS OTHER END PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED FROM SAID FRAME, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY PIVOTING EACH OF SAID BOOMS ABOUT ITS RESPECTIVE PIVOT CONNECTION TO MOVE SAID CONVEYOR RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME, DOLLY MEANS ENGAGED WITH SAID MOVABLE LONGITUDINALLY OF EACH OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS, AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID DOLLY MEANS TO SAID BOOMS FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID DOLLY MEANS ALONG SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS IN RESPONSE TO PIVOTAL BOOM MOVEMENT AND FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID BOOM AND DOLLY MEANS SO THAT SAID BOOMS ARE SUPPORTED FROM SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS THROUGHOUT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID BOOMS. 